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Related Concept Videos

The Replisome03:01

The Replisome

DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
The Replisome03:01

The Replisome

DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
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Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...
Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
TLS polymerases are found in all three domains of life - archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Of the different classes of TLS polymerases, members of the Y family are fitted with specialized structures that...
Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
Fixing Double-strand Breaks02:04

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...

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Detection of Post-Replicative Gaps Accumulation and Repair in Human Cells Using the DNA Fiber Assay
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Loading clamps for DNA replication and repair.

Linda B Bloom1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0245, United States. lbloom@ufl.edu

DNA Repair
|February 14, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sliding clamps and clamp loaders are essential for DNA replication and repair, acting as processivity factors for DNA polymerases. This review compares the conserved mechanisms of clamp loading across prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Sliding clamps and clamp loaders are crucial for DNA replication and repair.
  • Sliding clamps are ring-shaped proteins that encircle DNA, enhancing enzyme processivity.
  • Clamp loaders are AAA+ ATPases that facilitate clamp loading onto DNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanism of clamp loading.
  • To compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic clamp and clamp loader features.
  • To highlight conserved aspects of clamp-mediated DNA processing.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of structural and functional data.
  • Review of existing literature on clamp and clamp loader mechanisms.
  • Focus on AAA+ ATPase activity in clamp loaders.

Main Results:

  • Sliding clamps increase DNA polymerase processivity and coordinate enzyme activity.
  • Clamp loaders utilize ATP hydrolysis for the mechanical loading of clamps.
  • Conserved structural and functional features exist across all domains of life.

Conclusions:

  • Clamp loading is a fundamental and conserved process in DNA metabolism.
  • Understanding clamp loader mechanisms provides insights into DNA replication and repair fidelity.
  • Comparative studies reveal conserved principles despite domain-specific variations.